Lawmakers pitch bill to create taxing districts for school security

Updated 4:45 pm, Tuesday, January 22, 2013

Texas school districts could create special taxing districts to fund more security under a proposal unveiled by three Houston-area lawmakers Tuesday.

The Texas School District Security Act, would allow school boards to hold elections on whether sales or property taxes should be rased to fund more security at public schools.

"I believe this proposal is a Texas solution that will save lives without sacrificing our freedoms," said state Sen. Tommy Williams, R-The Woodlands, who together with Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, and Rep. Dan Huberty, R-Humble, are creators of the measure.

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The three say they still are drafting the bill, but offered a few details at a news conference.

As envisioned by the lawmakers, school boards would manage the special districts and the funds raised. Each district would have to hold public hearings and craft a plan with an exact price tag before putting it up to a vote.

For districts where the sales tax already is set at the maximum 8.25 percent, a property tax hike could be considered. If the property tax maximum already has been reached, then a constitutional amendment may be required to give school districts authority to fund this measure.

All three lawmakers stressed that the state is not forcing school districts to do anything. It would be an option to collect additional funds for security only.